used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
Aye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Aye, aye, sir."
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
bowsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
broadsidenounUS /ˈbrɔːdsaɪd/
an advertisement (usually printed on a page or in a leaflet) intended for wide distribution
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
cable'snounUS /ˈkeɪbəlz/
possessive form of “cable” — a telegram sent abroad
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
a boy or man
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
considerablyadverbUS /kənˈsɪdərəbli/
to a great extent or degree
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
travel across or pass over
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
endeavorsnounUS /ɪnˈdevərz/
plural of “endeavor” — a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
at or to or toward the front
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
set up or found
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
gunnernounUS /ˈɡʌnər/
a serviceman in the artillery
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
hatchwaynoun
an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship
From this reading At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
likingnounUS /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/
a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
magazinenounUS /ˈmæɡəziːn/
a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
a particular point in time
From this reading At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
nearedverbUS /nɪrd/
past form of “near” — move towards
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
not any; not one
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
To move from a closed position.
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
pantaloonsnounUS /ˈpæntəluːnz/
plural of “pantaloon” — a buffoon in modern pantomimes; the butt of jokes
From this reading At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
rakeverbUS /reɪk/
move through with or as if with a rake
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
Scarfemwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
a particular situation
From this reading At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
shortenedadjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtənd/
cut short
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
term of address for a man
From this reading "Aye, aye, sir."
not in physical motion
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
Tailtackle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Scarfemwell," said I to the gunner, "go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I've no great liking for that chap, open the magazine."
topsailnoun
a sail (or either of a pair of sails) immediately above the lowermost sail of a mast and supported by a topmast
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
unsuccessfuladjectiveUS /ˌʌnsəkˈsesfəl/
not successful; having failed or having an unfavorable outcome
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
at the time that
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable's length from us.
